Thermostatic alarm.



PATBN'IED JULY 21, 1903.

J. E. FORTIN. THERMOSTATIC ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED 1107.20, I902.

N0 MODEL.

DEIEJEI Witnesses:

Attorneys UNITED STATES Patented duly 2i, i903.

PAT NT OFFIC JULES ERNEST FORTIN, or MONTREAL, oANAoA, ASSIGNOR, BY MEs E ASSIGNMENTS, To EXARE GERVAIS, 0E MONTREAL, oANADA.

TH ERMOSTA'l'lC ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 734,053, dated July 21., 1903. Application filed November 20, 1962- derial No. 132,075. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULEs ERNEST FORTIN, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing in the city and district of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Alarms; andldo hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the in vention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an automatic fire or heat alarm adapted to be operated by the rise of temperature in the neighborhood or apartment in which it is placed and to give an alarm at the proper point as soon as the temperature rises above a certain predetermined degree.

The object of my invention is to produce an alarm operated on thermostatic principles which shall positively and infallibly operate at the desired point and at no lower point of temperature, which shall embody a maximum of simplicity in construction, and consequent practical impossibility of getting out of order, and which shall be adapted on operation to sound a bell, gong, or other alarm at any desirable point, whether in the apartment in which the alarm is placed or at some distant point, such as the lower corridor of the building, thus arousing or calling the attention of the inmates.

To these ends my invention consists, substantially, in a base having attached thereto a thermostat which is so'arranged that when the heat has reached a predetermined point the thermostat will be caused to close an electric circuit in which is located a bell, and thereby give an alarm.

My invention consists, substantially, in a balanced tube containing liquid which is sealed in one end of the tube by a fusible seal, on the melting of which the liquid is caused to run to the other end'of the tube, thereby tipping the same and causing it to make an electric contact which closes a bell or gong circuit, and thereby sets the said bell or gong in vibration.

My invention further consists in the provision of means for readily and quickly filling the tube with said liquid and placing a seal thereon and in arranging the latter to melt at a predetermined temperature,and, further, in the provision of means for shielding the fusible plug from the action of direct radiationas, for instance, from the radiation of a fireplace within the room-which by being concentrated upon said plug might cause it to melt prematurely, and, furthermore, in regulating to some extent the temperature at which the plug is arranged to be melted.

My invention further consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth, and more particularly specified in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying this application I have illustrated the preferred form of my alarm and also the manner of using it in combination with annunciator bells and circuits; and herein Figure l is a side elevation of the alarm as attached to the wall-of an appartment and as provided with a bell adapted to give notice to the inmates of the apartment on the melting of the plug. Fig. 2 is a similiar View of the device, shown in the position of giving an alarm and also illustrating the manner of filling the tube. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the alarm shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. L is a perspective View of the connection strip and cap employed on the tube to make contact.

Fig.5 is a side elevation of the alarm as employed for centrally-located annunciator systems, together with a diagram of a system as employed for hotels or other buildings where the alarm is desired to be given from a central point.

The same numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the numeral 6 designates the base-board on which the alarm is mounted, and the alarm consists of two main portions-that is to say, the thermostat 7 and the bell 8secur ed,respectively, to the left and right ends of the base 6, which is preferably of insulating material, such as wood. The bell 8 is of the ordinary, pattern,

provided with a gong 9 and hammer l0, operated from Within the casing 11 of the bell, and it has two terminals 12 and 13, the first of which is electrically connected by an ear 14 with the base-plate 20 of the thermostat 7, and this terminal may also, if desired, be connected to the casing of the bell. The other terminal 13 is insulated from the casing 11 and is arranged to be connected to one of the poles of a battery-circuit 15, in which is located a battery 16. The other pole of the battery-circuit is connected to the terminal 17, which, as shown, is in the nature of a bolt having a broad flat head 18, mounted on an upstanding ear 19, formed on the base-plate 20 of the thermostat and insulated therefrom by any suitable insulating-collar 21, and the bolt 17 has on its threaded end a washer 22 and a nut 23, between which the wire pole of the circuit is clamped.

The base-plate 20 of the thermostat is, as shown, of hour-glass form and constitutes itself one pole of the thermostat, the other pole being formed by the terminal 17. Centrally of the plate 20 is pivotally mounted a ring-bolt 24, which has on its front side a ring 25 of suitable size to receive the glass tube 26 of the thermostat, which is secured centrally to the ring 25 by a set-screw 27. This tube is closed at its left-hand end, as shown; but its right-hand end is open when not covered by the metal cap 28, which, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, is electrically connected with the ring 25, and hence with the plate 20, by means of a metallic strip 29, which is soldered to the rear side of the cap 28 and passes between the ring 25 and the tube. The tube 26 when the apparatus is in operation contains a heavy liquid 30, the nature of which is not material; but I prefer mercury for this purpose, this liquid being sufiicient in quantity to fill about one-third of the tube. This liquid is inserted in the tube when the latter is hanging in vertical position, as shown by, the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that its surface will be square in the lower end of the tube, and it is sealed in this position by a fusible seal 31, which may be of wax, preferably dyed, so as to be readily visible, or any suitable composition arranged to melt when the predetermined temperature is reached. After the plug 31 has sufficiently cooled the cap 28 is inserted over the end of the tube 26 and sealed by cement, and the tube is now turned about its axis into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which its weighted end is supported by a spring-clip 32, which is secured to an outstanding ear 33 on the base-plate and has a bend 34 therein, which forms a shelf to support the tube, as shown, with the weighted end somewhat higher than the other end.

The operation of the device is as follows: As soon as the temperature of the atmosphere in which the alarm is placed has risen above a predetermined point the fusible plug 31 will melt, and thereby the mercury will immediately run down to the other end of the tube 26, and thereby overbalance it, so that it will be turned into the position shown in Fig. 2, when the cap 28 will make electric contact with the terminal 17, and thus close the circuit and ring the bell 8. In case the fire is extinguished in time or the alarm proves to be a false one the thermostat can then be readily set again by simply pulling out the clip 32, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and turning the tube 26 into the upright. position shown in the dotted lines, whereupon the application of a little heat to the solidified plug will cause it and the mercury to again assume the positions shown in Fig. 1.

In cases where there is apt to be radiation or a concentration of heat from some normal source in the apartment upon the plug 31 I provide a shield in the form of a tubular sleeve 35, which is adapted to slide on the tube 26 and to be secured thereto at any point by a thumb-screw 36. This is preferably made of polished metal, such as brass, so as to reflect any heat concentrated thereon, and when placed in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 will cover the seal 31 either completely or partially, so as to prevent the same from melting prematurely. This shield 35 may also be utilized to regulate within certain limits the fusing temperature and rapidity of operation of the plug.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated my improved thermostat as adapted to the application to large buildings-such as hotels, flat-houses, warehouses, magazines, and other like buildingswhich have a large number of untenanted apartments and where notice of a fire in any one apartment is desired to be given' at a central source. In this case the hell 8 may be abolished and the thermostatsomewhat altered in form. The thermostat in this instance preferably consists of a base 6, to which is attached the metallic base-plate 20 of the thermostat, which has attached thereto the terminal 17 and clip 32 and has pivoted thereon the tube 26, provided with the same appurtenances as before and arranged to act in the same mannerg'but in this case I provide in place of the car 14 a terminal 14, connected to the base-plate 20 and to which may be connected the wire 37 of a battery-main 38. A number of these devices will be placed in the respective apartments and one terminal of each connected to the battery-main 38, while the opposite terminals 17 are connected to a series of independent leads 39, connected to the respective terminals 40 of an annunciator 41, the circuit being also arranged to contain a hell or gong 8 and a battery 16. It will be seen that in case of any alarm being given by the operation, for instance, of the thermostat numbered 3 the circuit will be closed and the hell 8' will be caused to ring and at the same time drop the corresponding annunciator-disk in the annunciator 41. Although the hell 8 on the individual thermostats will in most cases be unnecessary in case of this arrangement, still the construction does not, of course, preclude the utilization of individual bells 8 in addition to the central gong 8 in case that is desired.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of my invention,

it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form or position without affectingthe operativeness or utility of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as are included within the scope of the following claims or of mechanical equivalents to the structures set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A thermostat comprising a pivoted vessel, means for confining a liquid within the same above the pivot thereof, said confining means being afiected by heat, and an electric contact actuated bythe rotation of said vessel upon the pivot thereof.

2. A thermostat comprising an elongated vessel balanced at an intermediate point, a liquid weight normally confined in one end of said vessel, a fusible plug normally confining said liquid and adapted to be melted by a predetermined degree of heat to permit said liquid to run to the opposite end of said vessel and turn the same about its axis, and means operated by said turning of the vessel for closing an electric circuit.

3. A thermostat comprising an-elongated vessel balanced at an intermediate point, a liquid weight normallycon fined in one end of said vessel, a fusible plug normally confining said liquid and adapted to be melted by a predetermined degree of heat to permit said liquid to run to the opposite end of said vessel and turn the same about its axis, a piece of conducting material on one end of said vessel, and a coacting piece of conducting material carried by a stationary part of the apparatus and against which said first-named piece is adapted to strike when said vessel is turned about its axis, said pieces being adapted to form the respective terminals of an electric circuit.

4. A thermostat comprising a base-plate, a tube pivoted thereon at an intermediate point and closed at one end, a metallic cap closing the opposite end of said tube and cemented thereto, means for normally sustaining said tube in a slightly-inclined position with said metallic cap at the lower end, a contact-piece against which said cap is adapted to strike, and a fusible material confined in the upper end of said tube and adapted to be melted by heat and to overbalance said tube to cause said cap to strike against said contact-piece.

5. A thermostat comprisinga base-plate, a tube pivotedthereon at an intermediate point and closed at one end, a metallic cap closing the opposite end of said tube and cemented thereto, means for normally sustaining said tube in a slightly-inclined position with said metallic cap at the lower end, a contact-piece against which said cap is adapted to strike, a heavy liquid normally confined in the upper end of said tube, and a plug of fusible material sealing said liquid in place.

6. A thermostat comprising a base-plate, a tube pivoted thereon at an intermediate point and closed at one end, a metallic cap closing .the opposite end of said tube and cemented thereto, means for normally sustaining said tube in a slightly-inclined position with said metallic cap at the lower end, a contact-piece against which said cap is adapted to strike, a heavy liquid normally confided in the upper end of said tube, a plug of fusible material sealing said liquid in place, and a slidable shield adapted to inclose said glass tube and to be fixed at any point thereon, so as to partially or Wholly cover said plug.

7. A thermostat comprisinga base-plate, a tube pivoted thereon at an intermediate point and closed at one end, a metallic cap closing the opposite end of said tube and cemented thereto, means for normally sustaining said tube in a slightly-inclined position with said metallic cap at the lower end, a contact-piece against which said cap is adapted to strike, a fusible material confined in the upper end of said tube and adapted to be melted by heat and to overbalance said tube to cause said cap to strike against said contact-piece, and a tubular shield adapted to slide on said tube and to more or less completely cover said fusible material to protect the same against radiation.

8. A thermostat comprising a base-plate, a tube pivoted thereon at an intermediate point and closed at one end, a metallic cap closing the opposite end of said tube and cemented thereto, means for normally sustaining said tube in a slightly-inclined position with said metallic cap at the lower end, a contact-piece against which said cap is adapted to strike, a fusible material confined in the upper end of said tube and adapted to be melted by heat and to overbalance said tube to cause said cap to strike against said contact-piece, and a tubular shield of polished metal adapted to more or less completely cover said fusible material, and provided with a set screw for clamping it in any position on said tube, whereby the fusing temperature of the composition may be varied.

9. A thermostatic alarm comprising a baseplate, a ring-bolt pivoted thereon,a glass tube closed at one end adapted to be clamped at an intermediate point thereof within said ring-bo1t,a metallic cap cemented to the open end of the tube, a conducting-strip connected to the cap and to the ring-bolt, a contactpiece below said cap andinsulated from said base-plate, means for supporting said tube in a slightly-inclined position with its closed end uppermost, a quantity of mercury normally confined in the upper end of said tube, and a fusible plug sealed in said tube over said mercury.

10. A thermostatic alarm comprising a baseplate, a ring-bolt pivoted thereon, a glass tube and a tubular shield or sleeve adapted to slide over said tube and to be clamped at any point thereon.

11. A thermostatic alarm comprisinga baseplate, a ring-bolt pivoted thereon, a glass tube closed at one end adapted to be clamped at an intermediate point thereof within said ring-bolt, a metallic cap cemented to the open end of the tube, a conducting-strip connected to the cap and to the ring-bolt, a contactpiece below said cap and insulated from said base-plate, means for supporting said tube in a slightly-inclined position with its closed end uppermost, a quantity of mercury normally confined in the upperend of said tube, a fusible plug sealed in said tube over said mercury, and an electric bell with one terminalof which said base-plate is electrically connected.

12. A thermostatic alarm comprising a baseplate, a ring-bolt pivoted thereon, a glass tube closed at one end adapted to be clamped at an intermediate point thereof Within said ring-bolt, a metallic cap cemented to the open end of the tube, a conducting-strip connected to the cap and to the ring-bolt, a contactpiece below said cap and insulated from said base-plate, means for supporting said tube in a slightly-inclined position with its closed end uppermost, a quantity of mercury normally confined in the upper end of said tube, a fusible plug sealed in said tube over said mercury, an electric bell with one terminal of which said base-plate is electrically connected, and a spring-clip having a shoulder adapted to support said tube and to release the same to allow it to be turned into a verand a spring-clip havingashoulder arranged to support the weighted end of the tube at an elevation slightly above the sealed end, and to be pulled out to permit the tube to be turned into vertical position.

14. A thermostatic alarm comprisinga baseplate, a ring-bolt pivoted at its center, a glass tube centrally clamped to said ring-bolt and closed at one end, a metallic cap sealing the other end, a quantity of heavy liquid normally confined at the closed end of the tube, a fusible plug adapted to confine said liquid, a spring-clip having a shoulder arranged to support the weighted end of the tube at an elevation slightly above the sealed end and to be pulled out to permit the tube to be turned into vertical position, in combination with an insulated contact-piece below said metallic cap and adapted to form one terminal of an electric circuit, another terminal electrically connected to said base-plate, and a tubular shield of polished metal adapted to partially or wholly cover said fusible plug and provided with a set-screw by which it maybe clamped in any position on said tube, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JULES ERNEST FORTIN.

Witnesses:

F. MYNARD, F. D. AMMEN. 

